Marsh Hawk Press is a poetry collective. Our books' forms and sensibilities assimilate modern and post-modern traditions but expand from these without political or aesthetic bias.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

EKPHRASIS WORKSHOP IN BARCELONA WITH SHARON DOLIN!

Writing About Art in Barcelona: 10-Day Poetry Workshop with Sharon Dolin at Jiwar:

Barcelona Int'l Residence for Artists, early January and late May

NEXT RESIDENCY: May 31-June 9, 2015

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Barcelona, Spain has a rich artistic and cultural tradition: from Antonio Gaudi’s unique architecture to the artwork of Joan Miro and Antoni Tàpies to Pablo Picasso, as well as having a thriving contemporary art scene. Each day will include a morning workshop at Jiwar with the entire group, followed by a 2-hour lunch break, and a late afternoon outing to a site or museum of artistic or cultural interest, time to explore a very walkable city, as well as time to write. The goal is to write new poetry in response to and in dialogue with the Catalan culture you will be encountering.

Workshop is limited to 8-10 people.

The schedule of outings will be shaped by the interests of the group and, along with such must-sees as Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum, might include a tour of the recently excavated 14th century synagogue and of the Jewish quarter; a private tour of a bomb shelter from the Spanish Civil War; and a possible excursion to the nearby Salvador Dali museum. Possible evening activities: concerts, theatrical performances, and talks with local writers. Students will have the option of going on a cultural visit or spending the day writing.

Each day’s schedule will include a morning workshop (2 1/2 hours), a break for lunch, and an afternoon outing to at least one local museum or other place of artistic or cultural interest.

Accommodations

Most artists will stay at Jiwar, a heritage house in the Gracia district of Barcelona on a pedestrian street with restaurants, food markets, and a metro stop nearby. Additional artists will have accommodations nearby and will have full use of the public spaces in Jiwar: Two lounge areas, a library and a gallery space as well as a garden and patio area for outdoor writing and workshops. Accommodation does not include meals, aside from one welcome dinner hosted by Jiwar’s Director. The house has a fully equipped kitchen and there are local food markets and inexpensive restaurants nearby. All spaces are equipped with heaters and a/c.

Praise for Spring 2014 Workshop:

“The Writing about Arts in Barcelona Workshop gives writers what they need: community, a chance to write in response to culture, architecture and the arts. Barcelona, and the workshop, just has so much to offer to writers who want to transform themselves and their writing.“—Nicholas Wong, Hong Kong, author of Cities of Sameness

“Sharon Dolin offered an intensive mini-course on ekphrasis and a workshop where we explored new first drafts and notes making their way toward becoming poems. Dolin is an expert teacher and a sensitive workshop leader, and the heart of the residency was this workshop session where we gathered every morning at 10:30 with our laptops and our café con leche concentrating on poetry and surprising ourselves every day.”—Gwen North Reese, New Canaan, CT